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12/16/06-Hockey
No. 1 St. Mary's upset by No. 8 Traverse City West
By Jeff Stearns
ORCHARD LAKE--Five days after being ranked No. 1 in Division 1, the Eaglets didn't play that way and were upset by the No. 8-ranked Traverse City West Titans , 3-2, Friday night at the SMAC Ice Arena.
The Titans came to Orchard Lake looking for their second win against three losses and played the giant-killer, scoring two power-play goals and a short-handed goal against Eaglet backup goalie Devon Carr, who otherwise stopped 22 shots.
Following a hooking penalty by Eaglet Brandon Kozlowski, Titan senior forward Blane Spiker scored with 10:35 left in the opening period off an assist from defenseman David Hanrahan. Less than a minute later, the Eaglets got a power-play opportunity when Titan senior defenseman Nate Greenman was sent to the box for cross-checking. However, senior goalie Dallas Kniss made several key saves to prevent St. Mary's from tying the game at that time. With 51 seconds left in the first period, Eaglet senior defenseman Mac Watts scored an even-strength goal to tie the game with assists from Tony Aukskalnis and Brandon Kozlowski.
The second period turned out to be a disaster for the Eaglets. While on a penalty kill, Titan junior forward Collin Thirlby stole the puck from Eaglet Brandon Kozlowski and scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 10:52 for a lead that the Titans would never relinquish. The Titans took a 3-1 lead ten seconds into their only power-play of the period when Eaglet defenseman Mac Watts was in the penalty box for tripping.
St. Mary's came out flying in the final period and dominated the Titans, outshooting them 14-7 and taking all 12 face-offs, but could only manage one goal by Billy Balent at 8:28 off assists by Clinton Bourbonais and Mac Watts. The Eaglets had a 5-on-3 advantage for 90 seconds, and scored just after it expired. St. Mary's pulled their goalie and played the last minute 6-on-5, but could not put in the tying goal.
On the night, Titan goalie Dallas Kniss made 32 saves, including several at point-blank range.
St. Mary's outshot Traverse City West 34-25 for the game.
The Eaglets (3-3-1) are scheduled to travel to Gates Mills, Ohio to play the Gilmour Academy Lancers on Friday night at 8:00 pm and on Saturday at 11:00 am. St. Mary's last played the Lancers in 2004 and dropped both games. After a break for Christmas, St. Mary's travels to Traverse City to play in the annual Traverse City Central Tournament, where they may meet Traverse City West again..
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